The Noida district administration has stopped the construction of farmhouses at Nangli Nangla area of Noida, following orders by the National Green Tribunal (NGT). The NGT had, on May 5, directed that the area falls within the Yamuna floodplain zone and that construction should bestopped.

An official added that the construction of 10 farmhouses, “the cost of which ran into crores”, was stoped by the district administration.

Moreover, the administration also handed over 80 acres of a 105-acre plot to its rightful owners, Indian Air Force (IAF).

On November 26, 1950, the IAF had acquired the floodplains, under its Tilpat firing and bombing range, located in Faridabad and some villages of the then Bulandshahr district. Later, the IAF stopped using this land, leading to its utilisation by farmers for agricultural activities. Soon after, with Noida becoming a real estate hotspot, the land was grabbed by the land mafia, and used for construction of farmhouses.

In Noida, six villages in particular — Nangli Sagarpur, Nangla Bahrampur, Chakban-satpur, Dostpur Magrouli, Khadar, Nangli Nangla and Chak Magroula — have become the epicentre of a thriving ‘farmhouse’ business. An official said, “The land belonging to the IAF was sold illegally from one person to the next. This had made it difficult to ascertain the rightful owners of the land.”

District magistrate BN Singh said “no illegal construction would be allowed” and that “the NGT’s orders is being followed”. An official added, “Strict punitive action will be taken against those violating the law.”